A married couple who shed 12 stone between them to improve their chances of conceiving feel pregnant nine weeks ago.

Tony and Joanne Young, from Felling, Gateshead, were clinically obese and thought they would never be able to have a second baby after trying for almost a decade.

At their heaviest Tony, 41, tipped the scales at 28st whilst Joanne, 34, was a clothes size 24.

Devoted: Tony and Joanne Young thought they would never be able to have another baby after trying for almost a decade. The pair have lost 12 stone between them

Before and after: Joanne and Tony Young were both clinically obese, left, and suffered health problems, but after joining Slimming World they lost six stone each in 18 months are now say they are happier than ever, right

The couple, who have a son Bradley, 11, lost six stone each after joining a weight-loss programme 18-months ago, which pushed them to swap crisps and takeaways for fruit and salad.

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Joanne, 34, who is nine weeks pregnant and expecting her second child in January 2015, said: 'I couldn't believe it when I found out that I was pregnant. I was crying as it was so overwhelming.

'We had been trying for a baby for eight years and nothing was happening. We knew that there was nothing wrong with our fertility and I was devastated that I couldn't get pregnant.

At their heaviest Tony, 41, right, tipped the scales at 28st whilst Joanne, 34, left, was a clothes size 24

Happy: Tony, left, is now 18st 9lbs and Joanne, right, is 14st. 'We have totally transformed our eating habits and I feel so much better,' says Joanne, who feared her heavy weight would lead to diabetes

'I had resigned myself to the fact
that I wasn't going to have another child. We are just so excited and
can't wait to have our baby at the beginning of next year, it's
amazing.'

TONY'S BEFORE AND AFTER DIET

THENBreakfast: Nothing.Lunch: Two cheese sandwiches with white bread, butter, two bags ofcheese and onion crisps, two glasses of Coke, two Mars Bars.Dinner: Doner kebab with chips, plus a 10in pizza and a can of Coke.Snacks: Crisps, packets of biscuitsand jelly sweets.